January 4, 2006
Born in the family home in the Shindagha area of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum was educated at a British university. He became ruler of Dubai on 7th October 1990, on the death of his father Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
Along with his brothers, Sheikh Maktoum had largely been responsible for ruling Dubai since 1983 when the death of Sheikh Rashid's beloved wife Sheikha Latifa left him devastated and his health deteriorated.
Sheikh Maktoum officially became the Ruler of Dubai, aged 46, at the time of the first Gulf war and the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, a period of high oil prices. With its newly-created Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai was well placed to capitalise on the upswing in Middle East business activity that came with the high oil prices.
This upturn was enough to more than compensate for a slump in local business in 1990; and hotels, offices and other real estate projects also followed, albeit in modest scale compared to what was to come in the later years of Sheikh Maktoum's rule.
In 1995 General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was appointed Crown Prince of Dubai, relieving his brother of day-to-day responsibility for running the emirate. But Sheikh Maktoum continued to take an active interest in UAE foreign policy. As UAE vice president, he often represented the country abroad during the years when the former president, Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was ailing.
At a recent World Economic Summit in Jordan, Sheikh Mohammed recalled that his brother said he could take an easy or difficult path in this new role, and that he consciously chose the difficult path.
Visionary leadership
For Dubai this meant an accelerated vision of economic transformation under clear and decisive leadership, with Sheikh Maktoum supporting his brother wholeheartedly and admiring his personal courage and strength.
Under their dual leadership, Dubai prospered, developing into a world class city and the Middle East's trading hub.
As a man, Sheikh Maktoum was greatly loved and respected by his people. He is described as a quiet man of modest behaviour. One of his greatest loves was horse racing, and worked hard with his brother to put Dubai on the world racing map.
The UAE presidential office described him as "a historical leader who devoted his life to establishing the United Arab Emirates and enhancing its structure and the welfare of its people."
Forty days of national mourning have been declared.
